Exhibit tells story of the coast through art, history

Published: Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 10:13 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 10:13 p.m.

You can explore the communities of coastal Louisiana and the effect land loss has had on the culture through a special art exhibit at the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve.

The exhibit, entitled “I Remember...” will have an opening from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 13 at the Acadian Culture Center, 314 St. Mary St., Thibodaux. The program is being presented by the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act Task Force, a federal, state and local partnership aimed at restoring the Louisiana coast.

The exhibit will feature environmental portraits and landscape photographs by Lane Lefort and oil paintings by Marian Brister Martinez. Both artists are natives of Louisiana and use their talents to capture the culture and heritage of the Louisiana coast.

“I've seen the changes in culture and environment. With photography you can't go back, you have to capture the history and ecology in real-time,” Lefort said.

Martinez's work includes 10 paintings depicting daily life along the lower Mississippi River when the principle mode of transportation was boating, making the river the main street of the community.

“As a child, the river played a part in my daily life,” Martinez said. “But change is inevitable, and as the years passed our lives focused on other things. I thought it would be important to touch upon this subject in order to document and bring light to a way of life that has quickly disappeared.”

The event will also include a presentation of 11 oral historians as they share their environmental portraits and stories. Interviews were conducted over a span of a year to capture the importance of varying lifestyles of individuals living and working in coastal Louisiana.

Among those interviewed are local residents, including Davie Breaux of Galliano, Kerry St. Pé of Raceland, Buddy Daisy of Dulac, Dr. Earl Melancon of Thibodaux and Brenda Dardar Robichaux of the United Houma Nations. Each of will share memories about living in the Barataria-Terrebonne Basin.

L. Gov. Jay Dardenne will be in attendance as the exhibit's keynote speaker.

“The collected environmental portraits and oral histories are important tools in connecting viewers to the cultural effects of land loss in coastal Louisiana,” said Jeff Weller, U.S. Fish and Wildlife supervisor and a task force member. “The artists having a first-hand view of coastal land loss in Louisiana offer a perspective that is unique, not just to habitat but to the people and the culture of this wonderful state.”

The free event is open to the public, but an RSVP is preferred because of space limitations. Refreshments are being provided by the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary Foundation.

The show will remain open for public viewing from March 13 through May 8. Bring your smart phone to hear the oral histories over your phone.

<p>You can explore the communities of coastal Louisiana and the effect land loss has had on the culture through a special art exhibit at the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve.</p><p>The exhibit, entitled “I Remember...” will have an opening from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 13 at the Acadian Culture Center, 314 St. Mary St., Thibodaux. The program is being presented by the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act Task Force, a federal, state and local partnership aimed at restoring the Louisiana coast.</p><p>The exhibit will feature environmental portraits and landscape photographs by Lane Lefort and oil paintings by Marian Brister Martinez. Both artists are natives of Louisiana and use their talents to capture the culture and heritage of the Louisiana coast.</p><p>“I've seen the changes in culture and environment. With photography you can't go back, you have to capture the history and ecology in real-time,” Lefort said.</p><p>Martinez's work includes 10 paintings depicting daily life along the lower Mississippi River when the principle mode of transportation was boating, making the river the main street of the community. </p><p>“As a child, the river played a part in my daily life,” Martinez said. “But change is inevitable, and as the years passed our lives focused on other things. I thought it would be important to touch upon this subject in order to document and bring light to a way of life that has quickly disappeared.”</p><p>The event will also include a presentation of 11 oral historians as they share their environmental portraits and stories. Interviews were conducted over a span of a year to capture the importance of varying lifestyles of individuals living and working in coastal Louisiana.</p><p>Among those interviewed are local residents, including Davie Breaux of Galliano, Kerry St. Pé of Raceland, Buddy Daisy of Dulac, Dr. Earl Melancon of Thibodaux and Brenda Dardar Robichaux of the United Houma Nations. Each of will share memories about living in the Barataria-Terrebonne Basin.</p><p>L. Gov. Jay Dardenne will be in attendance as the exhibit's keynote speaker. </p><p>“The collected environmental portraits and oral histories are important tools in connecting viewers to the cultural effects of land loss in coastal Louisiana,” said Jeff Weller, U.S. Fish and Wildlife supervisor and a task force member. “The artists having a first-hand view of coastal land loss in Louisiana offer a perspective that is unique, not just to habitat but to the people and the culture of this wonderful state.” </p><p>The free event is open to the public, but an RSVP is preferred because of space limitations. Refreshments are being provided by the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary Foundation. </p><p>The show will remain open for public viewing from March 13 through May 8. Bring your smart phone to hear the oral histories over your phone.</p><p>For information, contact Cole Ruckstuhl, Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act public outreach media specialist, at (337) 266-8542 or ruckstuhlc@usgs.gov.</p><p> </p><p>Nikki Buskey can be reached at 857-2205 or nicole.buskey@houmatoday.com.</p>